About a decade ago I remember an elderly Gentleman at my clinic requesting me to visit a new venture that his son had started after his catering education. I distinctly remember the pride in the man’s voice when he spoke about his son. A few days later I had parked my car on the road in a street in T Nagar and the board on a restaurant across the road looked familiar and recollected the name as the one that the gentleman had mentioned. After our meeting nearby, I dragged my friend to the restaurant and told him that I just wanted to try the place as a courtesy to a nice gentleman. But the taste of the offerings in the place literally blew us away. I remember meeting the gentleman's son who looked very very young then and congratulating him on a lovely place. Since then I had been to the restaurant named ‘Mouthful’ a dozen times till they decided to close it/modify it. Some of their dishes especially the grilled offerings were outstanding , especially the Rann.

When I walked into ‘Coal’ barbeques a new barbeque in Velachery a few days back, I had expected a ‘Barbeque’ restaurant of the same template that ‘Barbeque nation’ had started with live grill on the table followed by Main Course and desserts and had been modified and tweaked by many others.
The restaurant located at Velachery was very tastefully done and had a wide range of tasty offerings (which I will describe later), I did have a sense of Dejavu about having seen this somewhere earlier (Barbeque nation, AB and 400F each with their own USPs). It was only mid way through the meal that the Managing director of the place walked up to us to greet us and I recognized Navaz as the man behind ‘Mouthful’. I had a long chat with him about the restaurant and his plans for the future and I realized that this young man has an excellent grasp on the market, has clear cut strategies for the restaurant.

Meanwhile about the place…..

​A very tastefull and uplifting décor, located on the second floor of the complex with a dedicated entrance on the ground floor and a dedicated lift.

The concept is ‘Live Grill on the table’ followed by Main Courses and Desserts. We were also served a couple welcome drinks (though i do not think they are part of the buffet ) Virgin Mojito and a Green Apple Fizz

Green apple Fizz

Virgin Mojito

The Live Grills

It was then time for the parade of the Live grills and the starters served on the table. which was in itself a very formidable list

ON THE GRILL – VEG STARTERS

Assorted Grilled Vegetables

Achaari Mushroom

Paneer Tikka

Honey Drop Brazilian Pineapple

Chili Cheese Potatoes

Thai Rice Corn Tikki

Crispy Corn Salt & Pepper

Chef’s Special Vegetable – (Chili Cauliflower )

ON THE GRILL – NON VEG STARTERS

Caribbean Chicken

Angara Fish

Chili Garlic Prawns

Punjabi Tangdi Kebab

Mutton Sheekh Kebab

Chef’s Special Non – Veg –(Fish Amritsar)

SPECIAL STARTERS (Non Grilled)

Dahi Kebab

Diliwali Tikki

Cheese Corn Lukhmi

Galouti Kebab with Saffron Bread

Every one of them was brilliant , though my favourites were the pineapple, the Chilli Garlic Prawn and Fish Amritsari.
​

TEPPANYAKI GRILL STATION

The USP of this place is the Teppanyaki live grill, where you get to chose your ingredients and the seasoning and the accompaniments and your order is done in front of you and delivered to your table !! The items are listed below and there were a variety of exotic meats which were a definite attraction. This particular counter was a huge hit and they seem to have got their act together (compared to the experiences of couple of friends who thought that the counter was chaotic on their visit a few days earlier)

(VEG)

American Corn

Cottage Cheese

Broccoli

Baby Corn

Green Peas

Zucchini

Mushrooms

Cauliflower

(NON-VEG)

Rabbit

Squids

Quail

Turkey

Shrimps

Duck

Shark

Eggs

The seasoning

The teppanyaki Grill

Soups & main Course
There were two choices for the soup along with a wide choice of mains

SOUPS

French Onion Soup – Veg

Hot & Sour Chicken Soup

VEG – MAIN COURSE

Kashmiri Pulao

Paneer Butter Masala

Achaari Aloo

Dhal Coal BBQ

Bhunna Jeera Subz

Methi Makhai Mutter

Bhindi Do Pyaaza

Steamed Rice

Curd Rice

NON-VEG – MAIN COURSE

Awaadhi Murgh Biryani

Rara Gosht

Murgh Begham Bahar

Crab Masala

Andhra Fish Curry

The stand out dishes were definitely the Ghosht, Crab masala and the Biryani

The Chef in Action

Crab masala

DESSERTS

An unbelievable range of desserts were on offer. The cold stone ice cream counter seemed to be extremely popular and i asked them to make a 'pan' Icecream which they did to perfection !!

Chocolate Truffle Pastry

Green Apple Pastry (Eggless)

Walnut Pastry

Caramel Custard

Mango Shots

Chocolate Shots

Gajar Ka Halwa

Rasmalai

Hot Jalebi

Rabdi

Kesariya Phirnee

Gulaab Jamun

Cut Fruits

Cold Stone Ice Cream

The standouts were the gajar ka halva, Rasmalai , Rabdi and Hot jalebis

Bottomline

I think Coal barbecues has got what it takes to give the patrons in Velachery and OMR areas a wonderful choice in the 'buffet and Live grill' space and will give Babu Ganeshan a run for its money.
With my experience previously with the promoters and with what I tasted they have a winner on their hands and their pricing is bang on for the extensive offering. Definite Value for money.
Lunch on Weekdays/Weekends : 649/749 Nett
Dinner on Weekdays/weekends : 699/749 Nett
Children (4 to 9 yrs) : 350 Nett